The Current Financial Crisis and You

By now, everyone is aware that there is a serious financial crisis that extends way beyond the borders of the United States of America and is affecting nations globally here on earth. Since the beginning of this crisis, many “prophets” and “seers” have come out of the woodwork with visions and prophecies of doom and darkness upon the United States and several of the nations with which we are currently aligned. This became even more pronounced with the election of President Barak Obama to the highest public office of the United States. Many church leaders and pastors felt that he was too liberal, stubbornly opposed to Judeo-Christian values such as protecting the life of the unborn and protecting the sanctity of marriage as being between one man and one woman, to be God’s choice for the presidency. As a result of this, many of these leaders immediately rejected him as they cautioned their congregants and followers to prepare themselves for the worse.

One very high profile minister even issued a public statement saying that the Church had lost the battle for the nation with the election of Barak Obama and not John McCain, and that as a result of it America would experience several years of judgment. While it is not my intention at this time to comment on these so-called “prophetic predictions”, I will say that much of what we have been hearing from these leaders with regard to our present crisis is false and misleading. At the same time, I cannot endorse the words of some very popular voices on television and the internet who proclaim that there is no recession and that the major agenda on God’s heart in this season is to bless and prosper America regardless of her spiritual and moral condition. Many of these recent “prophecies” are limited in their prophetic perspective and conditioned by religious, political and cultural biases or blind-spots, poor theology, a nationalistic mentality, and a very limited view and understanding of God’s eternal purpose.


Understanding the crisis from God’s eternal perspective

It is time to put things in proper perspective. God does not want your heart to be filled with fear because of the words of these doom and gloom “prophecies”, neither does He want you to become spiritually complacent because of the sweet sounding words given by some that it is God’s intention to bless us despite our rejection of Him.

God is beginning to uncover and expose the corruption within the hearts of men, and this financial crisis is beginning to do just that. If you remember, prior to this financial shake-up there was a cry issued for greater transparency and accountability regarding the financial practices of certain well-known religious leaders and ministries here in the U.S. God began to demand reformation of present attitudes and mentalities regarding money in the Church, and He was prepared to begin exposing those who were motivated by greed and were entrenched in corrupt systems and practices. Churches disintegrated and properties went into foreclosures. Judgment always begins in the “house of God” (1 Pet 4:17).

Soon afterwards, the stock markets and financial institutions of America began to experience a great shaking and collapse as God began to put emphasis on His call to financial reformation and to project it on a global scale. Corrupt executives were exposed and will continue to be exposed as the stench of their greed continues to move heaven to action. The Babylonian systems of the earth are shaking, but very soon God will withdraw His hands and these systems will recover, some stronger than they were before, some replaced by other systems, and wealth redistributed to other areas.

True reformation will bring an end to systemic poverty, cure the greed of men’s hearts, and see a redistribution of wealth especially among the impoverished regions, sectors and nations of the earth who have been forsaken or robbed of their natural resources.


Respond in faith, don’t react in fear

Our response in this season is to repent – change our thinking to that which aligns with the current architecture of God’s Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is one that is not only defined by provision and abundance, but it is defined by selflessness, love and a spirit of community. We must embrace a new heart where we are no longer motivated by selfishness or gain, but we are motivated by faith and love toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is time to adopt the spirit of community and brotherhood where we do not consider what we have as our own, but we are willing to share and to give to those who have need (Acts 2:44.45). It is time to hearken to the cry of the Holy Spirit and to conform to God’s reformation patterns for us in this season.

Now is not the time to shrink back in fear and try to hoard or bury what we have. This is a season of faith where we must step out into new dimensions of giving and demonstrations of love one for the other. If your brother is hungry, don’t pray, give him of your own substance so that he may be filled. If your sister is in need, don’t intercede, but lend, expecting nothing in return. While others have cut back in their giving to support the work of the Kingdom, you give more, knowing that you belong to an unshakable Kingdom which never suffers lack or recession.